Spring Break = Party Time, Excellent!

So it's Spring Break and all your travel plans went bust...what to do, what to do...

Ah ha! You have lots of fun anyhoo! Grace went with her BFF and her family to Great Wolf Lodge near Cincinnati for 2 days. They had an absolute blast! Later in the week, Bill was able to get a much deserved day off (One WHOLE day! Whoo hoo! Um, did that sound sarcastic? Sorry!) so we headed to Cincinnati with Grace, Miss K and Miss K's Mom and brother! Our destination? The Newport Aquarium just over the bridge from Cincy.

We got a very early start and were

there when they opened the doors...

Let's head inside...

The girls meet up with Carrie...Carrie looks a little non plussed about it all.

I got such a giggle out of Carrie's little wagon...it's called the Penguin Mobile.

You are a cutie Carrie!

2 lovely ladies

Here we are in the Lorikeet zone. You get your little cup of nectar, hold it up

and voila! You are feeding the birds! Gosh are these little guys bee-yoo-tee-ful!

Grace LOVED this...I didn't think she would ever leave...well. That is until one of the those pesky birds had had quite enough of the nectar and felt the call of old Ma Nature. Uh huh. Let go right on the girls. That was it! They were more than happy to leave then!

This is Miss K's very pretty Mom!

Mr. Bill petting a shark. yes. That is what I said. Petting a *shark*.

Miss K petted a shark. Her brother petted a shark. Grace petted a shark. Did *I* pet a shark? Me? Are you kidding? Penguins I pet. Lorikeets I pet. Stingrays, maybe. Dolphins I hug.

Why I even petted a very dapper tree toad.

Sharks? Um, no.

By mid afternoon we were all famished. and headed into downtown Cincinnati for lunch.

My oh so generous brother and sis in law had given us certificates for a place we had yet to try.

Delicious food, a wonderful waiter, lots of laughs and good conversation.

Here is Grace with Miss K and her so, so cute brother posing in front of the mechanical bull. I think the kids were a teensy bit disappointed that only those over 18 could take a ride. I offered to represent our group and saddle up but, after looking me over, the bull up and went on strike. Sad.

The view of Cincinnati from Newport on the Levee, an area filled with shops, restaurants and

entertainment venues..it is also home to the Aquarium. The next day we had an all girls trip to The Greene, a shopping and foodie paradise not too far from Rabbit Run.

Miss K, her Mom, my Mom and I had a wonderful afternoon!

Here are the girls chatting up one Mr. Easter Bunny.

Lunch was at Brio...I had their shrimp risotto ...oooh. To die for!

And then we headed for the shop to end all shops, well, at least that is how two BFFs describe Justice! the aptly subtitled, The Store For Girls, is always a big hit for Grace and Miss K! Both had birthday monies burning proverbial holes in their pockets and they wanted to check out the newly arrived Summer merchandise. Whew! After all of that trying on and deciding and spending money, the girls

were ready for a treat! Off to Coldstone Creamery!

The ice cream was on Grandma (No, not literally you sillies!) and the smiles were

on the faces of the two happy, silly Spring breakers!

I do hope your week has been a good one.Ours started off cold, rainy and yes. Oh so snowy on Tuesday. But it has still been a good few days. Tuesday I had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory with two dear friends, Wednesday afternoon I had lunch at Christopher's with two more of my closest, most special friends and my Mom! Days spent with such people are always blessings!

Last evening, Bill and I had Mom and another special friend over for dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs and lots of laughs. No silly! They weren't laughing AT my spaghetti! Okay, maybe they WERE but we had fun anyway!

And yes. I KNOW I am lucky! These friends (and Mom too of course!) have all known me since I was a rug rat, seen me through every moment of my life, good and not so, and STILL like me! Hard to believe but oh so sweet. I count those blessings every day!

And when I count those blessings, each one of YOU is on that list too.

You are all so, so important to me.

Yesterday was sunny, warmer and very pretty. Today is to be the same...ahhh.

Well, I am off to pick up my nephew, run some errands and give a little tender, loving

care to my much neglected cottage!

Happy Thursday!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Girls Gone Wild...

...on Spring Break! Uh huh. Wild. Crazy. Unfettered. Silly even. Singing show tunes and spending all that birthday loot my girl had saved. First stop, Grace's choice for lunch, The Cheesecake Factory. There's our smiling girl! Could this be why she was so happy? And this was the smaller lunch portion! This kid loves pasta, the spicier the better! Then it was off to Sephora for a little makeover. Now, before anyone pops in to tell me that she is too young to wear cosmetics, let me say this. No wearing anything to school is Mom and Dad's rule. And the beauty experts at Sephora chose only a slightly pink tinged moisturizer (SPF 30!) and some pretty pink lip gloss. We also picked up some pale pink eye shadow that they showed her how to use as a very light blusher. These are only to be used for special occasions like the weddings we are attending this Summer. But oh how she loved it and I think she truly felt pretty. It has been a difficult road for her, self image wise. If doing something like this helps our girl feel good about herself, than it is a very small price to pay. That is "Justice" just over her right shoulder, with the blue awnings. This kid loves that store more than I can say. They all know her in there and she is nothing short than a walking, talking advertisement for them. She saves her money from holidays and birthdays and chores and then is allowed to use some for clothes. Oh but she loves clothes. Today's shopping adventure included picking up this year's bathing suit. Summer will be here before we know it! Now, the BIG event. Grace got her hair cut! We went to see our wonderful hair dresser, Julie, at Utopia Salon and snip, snip, snip. 10 inches were gone just like that! Grace has been growing out her hair for almost 2 years so she could donate it to a very worthy cause. Here is the proof! Off to "Locks of Love" go Grace's pretty tresses and they go with our prayers and love for the recipient. The new look...our beautiful girl. Can you imagine how proud we are of her?

Ikea Peeps

It is hard to believe that Easter has already come and gone yet we know it is true. Our Peeps are beginning to fly the coop. One by one they leave the proverbial nest, following one another out into the big world. *sniff* I-Kea...future shopping here. You know. I-Ke-A...I-See-A...hm. Um. Okay, Silly play on words but oh so true. The Swedish megastore has arrived in our area. It was a rainy, chilly day so what better thing to do than go peruse the retail behemoth's newly opened store along with a few million or so of our friends. Oh yeah. There were people. And shopping carts. And strollers. And even more people. But there were also Swedish meatballs at the cafe and killer throw pillows and cutting boards and baskets and glassware and rugs and frames and, well, let's just say it was fun. Even old frugal Bill, the man I love, was tossing things into the cart. Now that is something you do NOT see everyday! I hope your weekend was a sweet one. Have a good week ahead...

As always, I send love and hugs! Susie Q

Happy Birthday! Please Join Me For A Day In New York City....

...but not just any day in New York! No, not for MY 51st birthday! I plan to take you to the New York City of 1956. October 26th, 1956 to be exact. I am so glad you were all able to come. I do hope your train tickets arrived early enough. And, for those of you from overseas, yes, I DO see you Sophie..there in the back! Welcome! Were your flights comfy? Pan Am has the best reputation! They gave me such a good deal! Oooh! I am just so glad to see you all! Andi and Brenda and Teresa and Tammy! I am thrilled you are here. Cheryl and the 3 girls!! Rhoda...you are here! Sweet Pea!! And there is Sheila and her daughter Lisa from Chicago and Sheila from Canada! And dear Sheila, you brought Blue, Deb and Kate with you as well! Valerie!! I KNEW you would come. Melissa AND Anna Marie! Kat, Kim and Donna!! Did you arrive together? Terri!! So glad you are here...Susie! Jolene! Cassie! Connie! Mari-Nanci! I am so glad you made it! Corrine! Ginny...I love seeing you all! Pam! Paula! And here is Sharon Kay! Anna, I do hope you are feeling better! There is Kim and Claire! Heather and Jacki and I think even our Gretchen is here. Ms. Greenie Garden and our Mom2Fur too! Ms. Strawberry Lane rode all the way here on her horse Royal! Janet! Cindy and Cherry too! Dear Charlotte and Cassandra were able to come! Hi Barbara and, wait! Do I spy a sweet Brown English Muffin?? Hi Michelle and Kayla! Rosie and Sandy! Welcome to you all! To all the Sues, Susie Qs and Sioux...I am so glad to see you! Why even Andrea was able to come along! Hi Diane! Hi Chris! Wendy! Ooh! It's Pat! And there is Rosemary and Karla! There is Robin...oh and Alice too! Carolyn and Betty Jo! Marie and Lidy and Manuela! Lynn and Mama P! Lisa and Jill! There's Missy! Jen with Emily! Dawn AND Jayla!! You DID come after all! I see Sandi and Kari, Penny and Mary...you all look so pretty! Gee, please forgive me...I just can't call out all of your names! I have run out of breath! So many of you! I am looking and I see ALL my dear blogging friends have come here to New York!! I see all of your smiling faces and I know we will have the best time. You all look positively radiant! Do you all have your white gloves? Oh, silly me. I need not have asked that! So, let's go. Grace and I have so much to show you today!

Isn't the city just amazing? If you listen closely you can almost hear it breathe...listen... Oops! Here come our limousines! You did not think I would let all of you ride in just any old vehicle now did you? Here we are on top of the Empire State Building! Isn't it just beautiful?

What a view! Here we are! The Plaza! This will be your home away from home today. Your every need will be met of that I can assure you! You have only to ask! Be on guard now, we just might run into a mischievous little girl named Eloise. I hear she lives at The Plaza and causes all sorts of havoc! Grace is looking forward to catching up with her...we will have to keep our little girls close to us so no trouble ensues. VALERIE! I did not think I had to worry about the adults too!! You march right back here and behave yourself! Tsk Tsk... Gather in now...it is time for tea! And where else would we meet than The Palm Court right here at the Plaza!

From the lovely harpist in her glittering gown to the waiters' impeccable service, from the gilt-edged marble columns to the crystal chandeliers, from the towering palm trees to the pink azaleas blooming all year long, the setting is simply magical here at the hotel's Palm Court.

The finger sandwiches are delicate and crustless, with cucumber sliced so thin it offers just a whisper of a crunch. Do remember to keep your pinkie up just so! The scones go so perfectly with the clotted cream that no jam is needed, but who can resist sampling the tiny jars of orange marmalade and blackberry preserves? Not me! Of course we will also have the most splendiferous birthday cake absolutely ever! May I offer you a slice? Oh! Two! My, you ARE hungry! I hope you enjoyed your lunch...that ride over was fun! I think I spied Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra! You did too? Wow! Do you see where you are? The heart of the theater district. Broadway! How I do love it so. I have, through a very secret source which I simply MUST keep private, been able to purchase tickets for ALL of us to this afternoon's performance of the smashing new hit, My Fair Lady! I hear that Julie Andrews may be a huge star! That Rex Harrison is pretty dashing as well. It should be quite enjoyable! And now for some serious shopping! Don't worry, just have your purchases added to my tab! Anything for you! There is Macy's and Gimble's, Bloomingdale's and Sak's Fifth Avenue. I simply must get one of those new pill box hats everyone is talking about! I think I shall look for one with a little veil. How about you? Central Park in the Fall. Is anything more beautiful? I have arranged to have dozens of Hansom cabs waiting for us at the park's entrance. The horses will all be young, high stepping, shiny coated and ever so peppy! Each of the drivers will be suitable attired in red jackets and a jaunty plaid cap and will have hot tea and chocolates for each of you. Oh the stories they will regale you with! Oh, and do go around the park a second and third time...I don't know about you but I am simply famished again! And I see that our carriages have arrived in front of Tavern On The Green! I have reserved the crystal room just for us! Do order whatever your heart's delight may be! It will be so magical watching the sun set and the millions of twinkling lights come to life...ooh...did you see that man at the door? I do believe it's Frank Sinatra! I see that he is being told we have the room all to ourselves this evening. What do you think? Should we invite him to join us? What are you having? Lobster? Yummy! Now, what better way to end our absolutely smashing day in New York City then with a nightcap at Birdland. We will have the place all to ourselves tonight and the management has promised me that the great Sarah Vaughn will sing for us. What an amazing end to an even more amazing day! Hmm...is anyone up for a late snack at the Carnegie Deli? You are? I will race you! Now, let's see...is anyone thinking what I am? It is SO late and we are all exhausted. We could stay over and tomorrow we can go to Radio City and dance with the Rockettes!! No problem. Your rooms are ready at the Plaza. Sleep well dear friends! Thank you so much for sharing my birthday with me...I loved being with all of you!